Method and apparatus for loading bobbin magazines



Oct. 12, 1965 w. H. BANKS 3,210,904

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING BOBBIN MAGAZINES Filed Aug. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 A4 37 IE. .1 l8

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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING BOBBIN MAGAZINES Filed Aug. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR \A/ALDO H. BANKS A TTORNEV Oct. 12, 1965 w. H. BANKS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING BOBBIN MAGAZINES Filed Aug. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WALDO l-LBANKs A TTORNEY (Pct. 12, 1965 w. H. BANKS 3,210,904

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING BOBBIN MAGAZINES Filed Aug. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WALDO H. BANKS 2m a-W A TTORNEY Oct. 12, 1965 w. H. BANKS 3,210,904

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING BOBBIN MAGAZINES Filed Aug. 8, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. \/\/A| DO l-i. BANKS BYQM 2- WM .4 TTORNE Y United States Patent 3,210,904 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOADING BOBBIN MAGAZINES Waldo H. Banks, Hopedale, Mass, assignor to Draper Corporation, Hopedale, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed Aug. 8, 1962, Ser. No. 215,739 11 Claims. (CI. 53-35) This invention pertains to a method and apparatus for loading empty filling bobbins into magazines of the type designed to feed empty bobbins to a combined donning and dofiing mechanism such as that cited in United States Patent No. 2,961,822.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a machine capable of accepting large quantities of empty filling bobbins and place them, properly aligned, into individual divided sections of a bobbin magazine.

A more specific object is to take filling bobbins, as received from the bobbin stripping machines, and with a great reduction in time and effort place them in magazines in proper order for use on a donning mechanism for spinning frames.

A further object is to control the quantities of empty bobbins to ensure the complete filling of each divided section within the magazine in sequence.

A further object is that of moving the magazine from a starting position along track surfaces, through the loading apparatus, to a removal position by gravity.

Another object is that of controlling the downward movement of the bobbin magazine by progressively presenting each of the internal divided sections adjacent the bobbin feeding tracks.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent to one skilled in the art from the following more detailed disclosure.

With combined donning and dofiing machines such as those disclosed in the aforementioned United States patent, it is necessary to place a large quantity of unwound or empty bobbins upon the receiving mechanism of the machine in a container such as a bobbin magazine. The empty bobbins are then automatically placed upon the empty spindles of a spinning frame. It has been necessary to load the bobbin magazines manually, and it is with this part of the operation that the instant invention pertains. Hand loading of bobbin magazines has been found to be time consuming and therefore costly. My invention reduces the necessity for handling the bob bins to a minimum, and, by mechanical means, fills the individual divided sections with predetermined quantities of empty bobbins and removes the filled magazines from the loading area.

According to the invention herein claimed there is provided a hopper type enclosure for receiving empty bobbins in an unsorted, jumbled condition. An opening in the lower end of the enclosure allows the bobbins to pass to a means for sorting and aligning the bobbins, com- .prising open ended, angular shaped troughs, through which the small end of each bobbin will fall to be suspended by the butt end.

The bobbins, when aligned, continue their downward passage through suspending inclined tracks to a counting and releasing mechanism. When predetermined quantities have accumulated, they may be released to enter the divided sections of the bobbin magazine, whereupon by means of an operating lever the counting means is allowed to fill with bobbins again and the bobbin magazine indexes to place other internal divided sections in position for receipt of bobbins.

The cycle is repeated until a magazine has been filled and is then allowed to slide to a position for removal and is replaced in the loading device by an empty maga- 3,210,904 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 zine. The magazine tracks are inclined at an angle sufficient to move magazines from the higher to the lower end by their own weight through the force of gravity.

A braking means is installed on the magazine tracks to control the speed of a full magazine after it leaves the loading apparatus so that damage will not result from magazines bumping each other at the lower end of the track. The length of the magazine track is not restricted but should be sufliciently long to accommodate a number of empty and a number of full magazines on either side of the loading mechanism.

One embodiment of this invention will be described in detail by referring to the accompanying figures of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view taken from in front and slightly to one side of the complete loading appartus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1 showing the counting and releasing mechanism before any bobbins have been released to an empty magazine;

FIG. 3 shows the mechanism as in FIG. 2 after the bobbins have been released, but before the magazine has indexed for a new cycle;

FIG. 4 shows the mechanism of FIG. 2 with the counting and releasing mechanism filled for a second time, and the magazine indexed to the second receiving position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view on line 55 in FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view on line 66 in FIG. 1.

Now referring to FIG. 1, the machine is supported by a frame having side members 11 and 12 at the top and 13 at the lower end interconnected by four upright members 14, 15, 16 and 17 at either side. These are connected laterally by end members 18 at the top and 19 at the bottom and by intermediate members 20 and 21, also pivoting member 22. The framework is reinforced by angularly placed tie rods 23, 24, 25 and 26 at each side.

At the rear of the frame and attached to its highest point is the bobbin hopper, generally designated 27, whose lower floor-like surface 28 is adjustably inclined downward toward the front of the frame. Curved sides 29 and 30 are attached perpendicularly to the surface 28 and are reinforced at their upper edges by overhanging members 31 and 32 which also serve to protect the operator from injury.

The rear and highest edge of the hopper is left open at 33 as also is the front and lowest edge at 34. This hopper serves as the container for an unaligned source of supply of empty filling bobbins B. The bobbins may be dumped from portable containers (not shown) into the hopper 27 through opening 33 and due to the inclined surface 28 will slide or roll toward opening 34- where the surface 28 is raised to form a triangular ridge as at 35. The purpose of the ridge is to separate the supply of bobbins into two groups before they fall into the orienting and aligning device designated generally 36.

Adjacent and downwardly inclined from opening 34 are two angular trough-shaped members 37 and 38, the upper or back ends of which are fastened to cross member 20 and the lower or front ends to cross member 22. The sides of the trough-shaped members 37 and 38 are held in fixed separation at their apexes to form a sufficient opening to allow the bobbin tips to pass through but to restrain the bobbin butts as at 39. Strips of low friction material such as Rulon 40 and 4-1 are attached to the inside apex edge of each trough member to facilitate the movement of the bobbins downwardly through the align ing device 36.

Across the lower ends of the trough-shaped members 37 and 38 is attached a substantially vertical brace 42,

and through its lower edge are cut two slots 43 and 44 which are in line with the bobbin butts 39 as they slide down the troughs 37 and 38.

Fastened to the upper edge of brace 42 are four deflecting plates 42A, 42B, 42C, 42D having flat upper surfaces and depending walls inter-connecting the angular surfaces of the trough-shaped members 37 and 38. The said deflecting plates act to relieve any jamming of groups of bobbins as they roll and fall into the orienting and aligning device.

Held fixedly below troughs 37 and 38 is a restraining plate 45 as seen in FIG. 2. The surface of this plate is inclined at a greater angle than the lower edges of the troughs 37 and 38, and its purpose is to restrain the bobbin from swinging as a pendulum and to facilitate the passage of the bobbin downward through the trough.

As the bobbins slide through slots 43 and 44, they enter the means for counting and releasing bobbins generally indicated by numeral 46. Directly in line with the slots 43 and 44 are two sets of upper tracks 47 and 48. The tracks in each set are separated sufiiciently to allow the bobbin tip to pass through, but hold the bobbin suspended by the bobbin butt. Below the two sets of upper tracks are two sets of lower tracks 49 and 50 for controlling the downward motion of the bobbin tips. It will be seen in FIG. 2 that bobbins arranged in an upright position will enter the counting and releasing means 46 and being suspended by the bobbin butt on the polished top surfaces of the upper tracks 47 and 48 and being held from any side motion by the lower tracks 49 and 50, will slide the length of these sets of tracks and be stopped by the counting means which will now be described.

In order that each compartment in the filling magazines will be filled and not overfilled, a counting device is attached to the upper and lower tracks and comprises two opposing adjustable rods 51 and 52. Inasmuch as these adjustable counting rods are interconnected and coact in opposing directions, the operation of only one will be explained.

Rod 52 is shaped in a slight curve around a centrally located, integrally formed collar 53 adapted to be fastened securely to shaft 54. Attached at one end of rod 52 by bolts 55 is an adjustable rod 56 which has a cut slot (not shown) through which bolts 55 may be inserted and allow for lengthwise adjustment.

Rod 52 and adjustable rod 56 when bolted together form a counting device by their ends being bent inwardly toward the upper track 48 as at 57 and 58. The pivoting motion of this counting device is limited by a U-shaped member 59 bolted to the outside of the upper track 48 and includes an adjusting screw and check nut 60 to further limit the motion of the counting device. Pinned to the lower end of shaft 54 is a collar 61 and rod 62 adapted to pivot with shaft 54 and to move in a plane just above lower track 49. At the outward end of rod 62 an adjustable rod 63 is bolted at 64 through a cut slot (not shown) to allow lengthwise adjustment. Rod 63 is bent inwardly at 65 toward lower track 49. At the upper end of adjustable rod 56 is bolted a push knob 66 and is the manual means for pivoting the counting and releasing device.

Arm 67 is pinned to the upper end of shaft 54 pivoting at 68 being held in the upward position shown in FIG. 2 by a tension spring 69 fastened at the lower end to arm 67 through a hole in lip 70 (FIG. 3).

A bracket 71 being bolted to vertical brace 42 at 72 and 73 has a bifurcated forward end with opposing holes through which a pin 74 pivots arm 75 when manually drawn upwardly by handle 76. Arm 75 also acts as opposing tension point for spring 69 through holes 77; the tension draws arm 67 upwardly and holds the counting device lower bent end 58 in a closed or holding position.

When pressure is applied to push knob 66 (FIG. 3), the counting and releasing mechanism pivots to its second position to be held there by a locking device while the counted bobbins are released to the magazines and incoming bobbin supply held back.

The above-mentioned locking device is shown in unlocked condition in FIG. 4 and, enlarged, in FIG. 5 is shown unlocked in the full line drawing and locked in the dot-dash drawing. An inverted U-shaped member 78 is mounted over upper track 48 at a height to allow bobbin butts 39 to pass beneath and forms the support for the locking device.

By means of a tapped hole through the top surface of member 78 a screw 79 acts as a pivot for a bell crank type lever 80 which is urged in a counterclockwise direction by a coil spring 81 held under tension by the screw 79. One arm of the bell crank lever is forced against arm 75 as at 82; the other arm forms a cam-like surface in the shape of a hook at 83. A pin 84 is perpendicularly extended from adjustable rod 51 (FIG. 5) to lock hook 83. When knob 66 is pressed inwardly both adjustable rods 51 and 52 pivot and pin 84 earns the bell crank lever hook 83 against its spring tension, thereby locking the adjustable rods in their secondary position. This restrains more bobbins from entering the counting device and releases those presently therein. See FIG. 3.

Now referring to FIG. 1, two compartmented filling bobbin magazines, generally designated by the letter M, will not be further explained except by reference to patent application Serial No. 165,578, dated January 11, 1962. Suffice to say that each contains a plurality of internal divided sections into which the loading device will place a predetermined quantity of empty bobbins.

Empty magazines are placed in position at the higher end of an inclined track (which will be subsequently explained), and by gravity, roll to the means for controlling the movement of magazines during the loading operation. This controlling means comprises two generally oblong frames 85 and 86 held apart and parallel to each other by braces 87 and 88 (FIG. 1). The under side of each frame is bolted to the inclined track so that magazines may pass through this framework when released by an indexing mechanism.

A shaft 89 for intermittent rotation is extended from the two opposing top members of frames 85 and 86. Fixedly fastened to shaft 89 are four magazine stop fingers 90, 91, 92 and 93 spaced apart and so adjusted as to point each consecutive finger vertically downward at each 90 turn of shaft 89. The magazine stop finger 90 acts against the indexing lug L while fingers 91, 92 and 93 act against the left end of the magazine as seen in the drawings. The lug L thus permits a following magazine to be stopped in the proper alignment immediately following a preceding filled magazine, the two magazines at this point being in abutting relation so that a finger cannot act against the magazine end for the first filling. Thus, fingers 91, 92 and 93 are spaced apart the equivalent of two magazine compartments while 90 and 91 are spaced somewhat greater. A spur gear 94 is keyed to one end of shaft 89 and efifects the motion thereof by meshing with a second spur gear 95 which is mounted on a stud 96 to which is also mounted an eight-pronged drive ratchet 97 and a lever with hub 98 (FIGS. 3 and 6).

Centrally located through a hole in lever 98 is pivoted a drive ratchet pawl 99 (FIG. 6) and from the outward end of lever 98 is pivoted a drive rod 100 whose other end connects with arm 75 at 101 (FIG. 3).

Intermittent rotation is imparted to shaft 89 by raising arm 75 which draws drive rod 100 and lever 98 upward, turning stud 96 together with drive ratchet 97 and spur gear 95 a 45 arc. Spur gear 94, having only half as many teeth as gear 95, turns shaft 89 a total of 90 thus positioning the magazine stop fingers downward consecutively.

In order to restrict the rotation of shaft 89 to 90 for each movement of arm 75, an overthrow stop device has been applied. This device comprises a four-armed star Wheel as an overthrow stop 102 with an integrally formed collar applied to shaft 89. A bracket 103 is bolted to brace 87 and through its outward end a pin 104 pivots an overthrow stop pawl 105. At the rearward end of bracket 103 attached loosely by a bolt is strap member 106; the opposite end is pivoted to lever 98. The upper edge of strap member 106 is shaped to form a cam to cause overthrow stop pawl 105 to rise and fall by a pin 107 inserted into the sidewall of stop pawl 105 (FIG. 6).

In order to assist in controlling the movement of magazines through the loading device, a supplementary intermittent rotating shaft, generally designated 108, is employed. This shaft is to operate in conjunction with shaft 89 and also extends from the two opposing top members of frames 85 and 86 and is parallel to shaft 89. Shaft 108 includes four magazine stop fingers designated with similar numbers in primes to match those of shaft 89 to act against the indexing lug L on each bobbin magazine.

A means for reciprocal rotation of shafts 89 and 108 comprises a sprocket wheel 109 and 110 on each shaft interconnected by a link chain 111 as illustrated in FIG. 1. On the right-hand end of shaft 108 is a spring clutch 108A fastened to the shaft bracket and encircling shaft 108 to restrict the direction of rotation to that shown by arrow (FIG. 1). The purpose of this clutch is to allow rotation of shafts 89 and 108 in one direction, but to act as a restraint against backward motion, possibly caused by vibration.

Now as a means for guiding bobbin magazines through the loading device, reference to FIG. 1 shows an inclined track framework generally noted as 112. Track members 113 and 114 fabricated of angle iron with a plurality of rollers, as at 115, bolted through the vertical side thereof. The tracks are pitched linearly at a sufficient angle to allow magazines to roll freely and are also pitched transversely at about 19 from horizontal. The combination of this pitch angle and that of 11 as has been recommended for the angular relationship of the side Walls of the magazine will approximate a 30 angle for the internal pitch of the magazine as it is being loaded, that is, the angle between the horizontal and the uppermost side wall of the magazine as seen in FIG. 1. It has been found desirable to carry this same pitch of 30 through the counting and releasing mechanism 46. The orienting and aligning device should be inclined about 20. Although there may be a small amount of deviation, it has been found that, for best results, these angles should be maintained.

The track for magazines extends either side of the loading frame to allow for a plurality of magazines to be positioned at one time. At the higher end of the track members 113 and 114 empty magazines are placed to roll automatically to the loading frame and after being indexed to be filled are then allowed to roll to the lower end of the track members for removal.

In order that full magazines will not gather too much momentum, an adjustable braking device has been applied to each track comprising a leather strap 116 fastened at one end by a pin 117 through the track member 114 and extending under a number of rollers and over intermediate pins as at 118, 119 and 120 to a rod 121 which extends across the track members 113 and 114. Tension is applied to rod 121 by a coil spring 122 which is fastened to a bracket 123 (FIG. 1).

The adjustable pressure of spring 122 holds strap 116 against rollers 115 to slow the movement of magazines.

Now having described the mechanism, the operation will be reviewed. Empty bobbin magazines are placed in the proper position on the upper end of the inclined track 112 and roll downwardly to the loading frame 85 and 86 to be stopped by the first stop fingers 90 and 90. The first two internal compartments are then in alignment with the loading tracks.

A supply of empty filling bobbins should be emptied into the hopper 27 and will slide to the lower opening 34. An operator will stand at this point and allow a continuous quantity to fall into the orienting and aligning device 36. As the bobbins drop and roll down the inclined sides, each bobbin tip will pass through one of the two narrow openings and be suspended by the bobbin butt.

The bobbins are properly aligned at this point and continue to slide down the tracks of the counting and releasing means 46. Both rows of bobbins are stopped by the lower end of the counting device at 58 as shown in FIG. 2.

When both sides of the counting device are full, knob 66 is pushed which pivots the rods 51 and 52 so that the counted bobbins slide into the magazine. Rods 51 and 52 are locked in this position, as seen in FIG. 3, while their upper ends at 57 hold back any further bobbins until the handle 76 is drawn upwardly to index the magazine to the subsequent pair of compartments. The movement of handle 76 immediately releases rods 51 and 52 and allows additional bobbins to slide into the counting device as shown in FIG. 4.

It will be noted in FIG. 4 that magazine stop finger has revolved a quarter turn upward and finger 91 is now acting to hold the magazine. This continues until the fourth finger 93 revolves upward to release the first magazine, now full, and a second magazine commences the cycle. The full magazine will roll slowly down the track to be removed.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. A method of loading empty filling bobbins into a compartmented filling bobbin magazine having a plurality of divided sections which comprises the steps of removing a continuous quantity of said bobbins from an unaligned source of supply, orienting and aligning said bobbins in rows in a substantially vertical position with the butt end on top, trapping, counting and releasing individual predetermined quantities of said bobbins into individual divided sections of said magazine, moving said bobbin magazine transversely of said rows to position additional divided sections of said magazine in alignment with said rows of bobbins, trapping, counting and releasing additional predetermined quantities of bobbins into said additional sections, and then again moving said magazine still further transversely of said rows to a disposal position.

2. An apparatus for loading a filling bobbin magazine having a plurality of internal divided sections with empty filling bobbins including in combination means for orienting and aligning in rows a continuing supply of said bobbins from a hopper type source of supply wherein said bobbins are deposited in an unsorted and misaligned condition, means for trapping counting and releasing a predetermined number of said bobbins into individual sections of said bobbin magazine, means for controlling movement of said magazine transversely of said rows consecutively to position each of said sections in proper alignment for reception of a full complement of said bobbins, and other means for guiding full bobbin magazines to a stationary position out of range of said loading apparatus to be there available for further disposal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the means for trapping, counting and releasing bobbins comprises for each of said rows a member pivoted intermediate its ends between first and second positions, said member having a bobbin restraining portion extending laterally therefrom at one end and a further portion at the other end thereof elfective simultaneously upon pivoting of said member to its second position to measure a group of bobbins to be released into a section of said magazine and to restrain other bobbins.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 which includes hand operable means for effecting the pivoting action of said member to release said group of bobbins.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the means for controlling movement of said magazine comprises a hand operable lever effective simultaneously to permit transverse movement of said magazine to align further sections thereof with said rows of bobbins and also to return said member to its first position.

6. A method of loading empty filling bobbins into a compartmented magazine having a plurality of divided sections which comprises the steps of (a) removing a continuous quantity of said bobbins from an unaligned source of supply,

(b) orienting and aligning said bobbins in rows in a substantially vertical position with the butt ends of said bobbins being uppermost,

(c) aligning individual compartments of said magazine with individual ones of said rows of bobbins,

(d) trapping, then instantaneously and simultaneously counting and releasing individual predetermined quantities of said bobbins into individual sections of said magazine,

(e) moving said magazine transversely of said rows to position additional divided sections of said magazine in alignment with said rows of bobbins,

(f) trapping, counting and releasing additional predetermined quantities of bobbins into said additional sections, and

(g) then again moving said magazine still further transversely of said rows to a disposal position.

7. An apparatus for loading a filling bobbin magazine having a plurality of internal divided sections with empty filling bobbins including in combination means for orienting and aligning in rows a continuing supply of empty filling bobbins from an inclined hopper type source of supply wherein said bobbins are deposited in an unsorted and misaligned condition, means for trapping, counting and releasing a predetermined number of said bobbins into said magazine, said means including at least one pair of inclined positioning tracks through which said bobbins may pass, means for controlling movement of said bobbin magazines transversely of said rows consecutively to position said sections in proper alignment for reception of a full complement of said bobbins, and other means for guiding full bobbin magazines to a stationary position out of range of said loading apparatus to be there available for further disposal.

8. Mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for counting and releasing a predetermined number of said bobbins comprises a pivoting means adapted to assume two positions, whereby the first position restricts said bobbins from passing through said positioning tracks until a predetermined quantity is held therein, and a second position adapted to release said bobbins to the said magazine, simultaneously withholding any additional said bobbins from said positioning tracks.

9. Mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for controlling movement of said bobbin magazines comprises spaced magazine stops mounted on intermittently rotating shafts, gearing for positive rotation of one of said shafts, means for reciprocal rotation of the second of said shafts, and means for preventing overthrow of said shafts.

10. Mechanism as defined in claim 9 wherein said shafts are adapted to place said magazine stops consecutively in position to index said bobbin magazine whereby each of said internal sections will be filled in succesion.

11. Mechanism as defined in claim 7 wherein said means for guiding full bobbin magazines out of range of said loading apparatus comprises inclined bobbin load ing frame members, roller members for movement of magazine by the force of gravity.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,063,588 6/13 Peterson 53142 1,090,855 3/14 Jagenberg 53160 2,233,466 3/41 Ayers 53244 X FRANK E. BAILEY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT A. LEIGHEY, Examiner. 

1. A METHOD OF LOADING EMPTY FILLING BOBBINS INTO A COMPARTMENTED FILLNG BOBBIN MAGAZINE HAVING A PLURALITY OF DIVIDED SECTIONS WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF REMOVING A CONTINUOUS QUANTITY OF SAID BOBBINS FROM AN UNALIGNED SOURCE OF SUPPLY, ORIENTING AND ALIGNING SAID BOBBINS IN ROWS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL POSITION WITH THE BUTT END ON TOP, TRAPPING, COUNTING AND RELEASING INDIVIDUAL PREDETERMINED QUANTITIES OF SAID BOBBINS INOT INDIVIDUAL DIVIDED SECTIONS OF SAID MAGAZINE, MOVING SAID BOBBIN MAGAZINE TRANSVERSELY OF SAID ROWS TO POSITION 